1001 - Breaking Boundaries and Building Community: Increasing Equity in Evaluation Through Radical Recruitment, Hiring and Staff Retention Strategies

Abstract Information: In today's rapidly changing world, the field of evaluation encounters a significant hurdle: the absence of involvement of new and emerging perspectives. This not only jeopardizes diversity and sustainability but also hinders the advancement of evaluation itself. Evaluation 2024 is committed to tackling this challenge by elevating the voices of new evaluators and urging professionals at every career stage to embrace innovative ideas and practices in evaluation. Our professional development workshop provides a platform to explore and develop hiring, recruitment, and retention strategies that embrace and support new perspectives in evaluation positions. Drawing from our organization's experience of completing four hiring cycles in the past five years, we have adopted a radical approach to hiring, recruitment, and retention, propelling us to become one of the fastest-growing organizations in our state. Gone are the days of rigid resumes and standardized applications. Instead, we invite prospective candidates to reveal their authentic selves through an open and inclusive application process. By prioritizing personal narratives and individual experiences over formal credentials, our innovative approach aims to uncover the unique talents and perspectives of each candidate. During the workshop, we will delve into the principles and practices that underpin our organization’s radical hiring philosophy. From valuing passion and potential over traditional qualifications to fostering transparency and trust, attendees will gain insights into cultivating a more human-centric approach to talent acquisition. We will discuss key components of the process, including developing job descriptions, crafting benefits packages, designing applications, and conducting interviews. By emphasizing the diverse skill sets and backgrounds sought for each role, attendees will understand how radical hiring can facilitate the formation of high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. Furthermore, our organization prioritizes employee well-being and work-life balance, setting a new standard for organizational culture and employee satisfaction among evaluators. Ultimately, this presentation will challenge attendees to reassess their own hiring practices and consider adopting a radical approach to talent acquisition. By embracing authenticity, diversity, and inclusivity, organizations can attract top talent and foster a sense of belonging and community among their employees.

Relevance Statement: The field of evaluation confronts an urgent need for adaptation and innovation (Shadish et al., 2015). Central to this imperative is the requirement to broaden participation and representation within the evaluation community, ensuring diverse voices shape evaluation theory and practice (Patton, 2018). The proposal, "Breaking Boundaries and Building Community: Increasing Equity in Evaluation Through Radical Recruitment, Hiring and Staff Retention Strategies," advocates for a departure from traditional hiring practices towards a more inclusive approach. Recognizing the profound impact of diverse perspectives on evaluation's quality and effectiveness (Stufflebeam & Shinkfield, 2007), the proposal prioritizes authenticity and individual experiences over conventional credentials. This approach enables organizations to access a wealth of talent, creativity, and fresh ideas, driving innovation and enhancing evaluation's relevance in a rapidly changing world. The proposal's relevance to evaluation is multi-faceted. Firstly, it addresses the need to broaden participation and representation, enriching the diversity of voices in evaluation (Patton, 2018). By reconceptualizing hiring as a dynamic and inclusive process valuing passion, potential, and diversity, organizations cultivate a culture of innovation and excellence within evaluation teams. Secondly, the proposal challenges existing norms and paradigms surrounding talent acquisition (Scriven, 2010). By embracing radical hiring practices, organizations align recruitment strategies with emerging trends in evaluation theory emphasizing complexity, diversity, and reflexivity (Shadish et al., 2015). Moreover, the proposal contributes practical insights and guidelines for implementing radical hiring practices, equipping practitioners with tools to transform talent acquisition (Stufflebeam & Shinkfield, 2007). Adhering to principles of inclusivity, transparency, and rigor (Patton, 2018), it promotes an open and equitable hiring process, ensuring evaluation teams reflect diverse perspectives. In conclusion, embracing radical hiring represents a significant advancement in evaluation theory and practice. Prioritizing diversity, innovation, and inclusivity strengthens evaluation's relevance and effectiveness, enhancing its impact on decision-making and social change (Scriven, 2010). This proposal empowers practitioners to adopt a hiring paradigm reflecting evolving needs and values, thus enriching the evaluation community.

References: - Patton, M. Q. (2018). Principles-Focused Evaluation: The GUIDE. Guilford Publications. - Scriven, M. (2010). Evaluation Thesaurus (4th ed.). Sage Publications. - Stufflebeam, D. L., & Shinkfield, A. J. (2007). Evaluation theory, models, and applications. Jossey-Bass. - Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Leviton, L. C. (2015). Foundations of program evaluation: Theories of practice. Sage Publications.